North Carolina
Michigan State
No. 15 Tar Heels Take Down Spartans, 6-2
March 7, 2009 | Softball
March 7, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Another dominant performance by senior Lisa Norris in the circle highlighted a 6-2 Carolina win over Michigan State Saturday night in the Tar Heel Invitational as the Tar Heels improved to 17-3 on the year. Whitney Allen drove in three runs on the day to propel the Tar Heels past the Spartans. Both the Tar Heels and Spartans sported teal t-shirts for the "Strike Out Cancer" event that was sponsored by the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center raising awareness of ovarian cancer. Former Tar Heel Jamie (Shaver) Mayberry, who has battled ovarian cancer, threw out the first pitch. The Tar Heels will take on Princeton at 11 a.m. tomorrow on the final day of the Tar Heel Invitational being held at Anderson Stadium.
Michigan State started off the scoring in a hurry when leadoff hitter Jessica Bracamonte drove a pitch over the right field fence for a quick 1-0 lead. A dropped fly ball following a strikeout put Lindsey Hansen on base before a sacrifice bunt moved Hansen to second. A routine ground ball made its way through the legs of Christine Knauer who quickly chased the ball down and was able to cut down Hansen at home who attempted to score on the play.
Knauer made up for the error in the top of the first with a leadoff single in the bottom half. Back-to-back illegal pitches moved Knauer to third for Breanna Brown, who took four balls and made her way down to first base. An intentional walk to Danielle Spaulding loaded the bases for Brittany McKinney who hit a sharp grounder to third that was fired home in time to cut down Knauer. An infield fly off the bat of Emily Troup put the chance of scoring in doubt. Whitney Allen stepped to the plate next and drove a pitch to the opposite field that landed just fair to unload the bases for a three-run double, putting Carolina in front to stay.
The Tar Heel tacked on two more runs in the bottom half of the second when Breanna Brown singled home a run and McKinney tallied a sacrifice fly to push the advantage to 5-1 in favor of Norris and the Tar Heels.
A 1-2-3 inning from Norris quickly put the bats back in Carolina hands. Allen led off the inning with a single back up the middle before making her way to third after a ground out and a wild pitch. Norris helped herself out in the third as she lined a ball off the second baseman to score Allen and put Carolina in front 6-1.
Michigan State led off the sixth with back-to-back singles but Norris was able to escape any trouble as she forced a ground out before striking out the next two batters to get out of the jam. She was not so lucky in the top of the seventh when the Spartans tried to stage a late comeback. Melanie Bensema led off the frame with a solo shot to right field that cut the deficit to four (6-2). A pair of singles with one out made things a little interesting for Norris but the senior settled down and rang up the next two batters to reach 14 on the day and earn her seventh win of the year.
The Tar Heels will close out the Tar Heel Invitational at 11 a.m. on Sunday when they take on Princeton.
